Hydraulic unloader

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic unloader is disclosed for attachment to the chassis of a truck. The unloader includes a turret having an extensible boom and rotatable through 360* at the rear end of the truck. The unloader includes a box frame welded to the chassis. The box frame is provided with horizontally extensible and vertically adjustable outriggers.

United States Patent Miller 1451 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] HYDRAULIC UNLOADER [72] Inventor: William H. Miller, Flowing Springs Road, Birchrunville, Pa. 19421 [22] Filed: Apr. 17, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 29,580

[52] U.S.Cl. ..214/77,212/55, 212/59 [51] Int. Cl. ..B66l1/54 [58] Field ofSearch ..214/130, 131,77, 78,80, 14]; 212/55,59, 145,8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,494,489 2/1970 Kruger ..212/59 X 3,047,161 7/1962 Thacker.... ..212/59 3,471,033 10/1969 Drury ..2l4/130 X 3,109,541 11/1963 Matson 214/77 UX 2,787,383 4/1957 Antos et al... ....212/55 X 3,543,945 12/1970 Nelson ..212/55 X 3,396,852 8/1968 Balogh et a1. ..2l2/55 X 3,129,821 4/1964 Graham et al. 212/55 3,232,460 2/1966 Rouse .214/77 3,056,510 10/1962 Garnett ..212/59 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,163,242 9/1969 Great Britain ..214/77 77,887 11/1954 Netherlands ..212/55 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner- Robert Spar Att0rney-Seidel, Gonda & Goldhammer [57] ABSTRACT A hydraulic unloader is disclosed for attachment to the chassis of a truck. The unloader includes a turret having an extensible boom and rotatable through 360 at the rear end of the truck. The unloader includes a box frame welded to the chassis. The box frame is provided with horizontally extensible and vertically adjustable Outriggers.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZ] I972 3. 650,421

sum 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR WILL/AM H.=M/LLER ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMARZ] m2 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR W/LL/AM H. M/LLER ATTORNEYS HYDRAULIC UNLOADER This invention is directed to a hydraulic unloader, and more particularly, to a hydraulic unloader mounted on a box frame adapted to be fixedly secured to the chassis of a truck by welding. The box frame is covered with a solid oak floor and is welded to the truck chassis so as to assure a solid, rattle-free base for any load.

At one end of the box frame, there is provided a vertical wall which will be positioned adjacent the cab of the vehicle. At the other end of the box frame, there is provided a turret mounted for 360 rotation on steel ball bearings. Below the rotatable turret, there are provided horizontally extensible and hydraulically vertical adjustable outriggers. One end of an extensible boom is pivotably connected to the turret. A gear driven winch is supported by said one end of the boom for movement therewith. The winch is adapted to operate a cable extending through the boom.

A turret extends upwardly and rearwardly at an inclined angle away from the front wall of the box frame. The turret is enclosed and contains within it a pair of power cylinders pivotably connected at their lower end to the turret. Piston rods from the power cylinders at their upper end are pivotably connected to the boom between the ends of the boom. Such cylinders and piston rods facilitate pivoting the boom about a horizontal axis with respect to the turret. The wall thicknesses and strengths of members as well as the hydraulic circuitry are designed to provide a hydraulic unloader having a capacity of tons.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic unloader with built in power and stamina to facilitate loading and unloading of loads on a vehicle up to 10 tons.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic unloader which is reliable, mobile, easy to maintain, and built for heavy duty service.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic unloader which may be readily secured to the chassis of a vehicle so as to provide a solid, rattle-free base for any load up to 10 tons.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hydraulic unloader in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the unloader in its inoperative position for over the road service.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of the present invention designated generally as 10 and mounted on a vehicle designated generally as 12. The vehicle 12, per se, is conventional and need not be described in detail.

The unloader 10 includes a box frame designated generally as 14 mounted on the chassis 16 of the vehicle 12. The box frame includes C-shaped side frame members 18 and 20. The open side of members 18 and 20 extend toward each other. Reinforcement braces such as [beams 22 extend between and are welded to the members 18 and 20 at spaced points therealong. A floor is provided by means of oak planks 24 secured thereto by bolts and running longitudinally of the box frame. The planks 24 are secured to the I-beam braces 22. Members 18 and 20 extend longitudinally of the box frame and are welded to the chassis 16 of the vehicle 12 so as to provide a solid, rattle-free base for any load supported by the box frame.

The box frame 14 is made from steel of suitable thicknesses and tensile strength so that loads up to ten tons may be supported thereon. At the forward end of the frame 14, adjacent the cab of the vehicle 12, there is provided a vertical end wall frame 26 having planks 28 secured thereto by bolts. The planks 28 are the same as the planks 24 which form the floor of the frame and on which the loads are mounted. Hence,

planks 28 are preferably made from oak. Other types of wood may be used for the planks 24 and 28.

'At the upper end of the frame 26, there is provided a channel 3 0 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. At the other end of the box frame 14 from the end wall frame 26, there is provided a depending wall defined by a metal plate 31 depending downwardly and located beyond the rear end of the chassis. A turret frame 32 is fixedly secured to the end wall 31 in any convenient manner such as by welding. A turret 34 is rotatably supported by the turret frame 32 by means of ball bearings in races 36 so that the turret 34 may rotate continuously throughout 360. One race is bolted to turret 34 and the other race is bolted to frame 32. Rotation of the turret 34 with respect to the turret frame 32 is effected by a hydraulic motor mounted within the turret 34. This may be accomplished by a pinion gear mounted on the turret 34 which is driven by said motor and meshed with a stationary ring gear supported by the turret frame 32.

The turret 34 is angled upwardly and away from the end wall frame 26 so as to be at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal. The included angle is approximately 75 to This angular disposition of the turret 34 facilitates supporting and manipulating loads up to 10 tons.

A boom 38 has one end pivotably connected to and supported by the turret 34 for rotation about a horizontal axis constituting the longitudinal axis of pivot pin 40. Movement of the boom 38 about the axis of pin 40 is accomplished by means of hydraulic power cylinders 42. Each cylinder 42 is pivotably connected to the turret 34 at its lower end for rotation about pin 43. Each power cylinder has a piston rod 44 extending upwardly therefrom. The free end of the exposed portion of the piston rods 44 are pivotably connected to the boom 38 at pin 40. The power cylinders 42 and piston rods 44 are disposed alongside each other in the enclosed, open top turret 34. An access door is provided in the: turret 34 to facilitate access' to the power cylinders, control valves, etc.

The boom 38 is provided with telescoping extension 48. The manner in which extension 48 telescopes within the boom 38 is per se conventional and need not be described in detail. A hydraulic motor gear driven winch 50 is supported by one end of the boom 38 for movement therewith. Flexible conduits extend from the turret 34 to the hydraulic drive motor of winch 50. The winch 50 provides for power-up and power-down manipulation of cable 52. Cable 52 extends around a pulley at the free end of extension 48 and terminates in a hook and block 54.

An outrigger means is connected to the turret frame 32. The outrigger means includes a pair of horizontally extensible outriggers 56 and 58 adapted to telescope into the channel 60. Each of the outriggers are identical. Hence, only outrigger 56 will be described in detail with corresponding prime numerals being provided for the corresponding structure on outrigger The outrigger 56 terminates at its free end in a vertically disposed power cylinder 62 fixedly secured thereto. A piston rod 64 extends downwardly from the lower end of the cylinder 62 and is connected to an angularly adjustable ground engaging plate 66. Flexible conduits 68 are provided and connected to the cylinder 60 to facilitate hydraulic raising and lowering of the outriggers. Separate controls are used for each outrigger to allow maximum maneuverability in close quarters.

During over the road service, the boom 38 is partially telescoped so that the free end of extension 48 is received within the channel 30 on the end wall frame 26. Thus, the boom 38 overlies the load 70 and can act as a stabilizer for the load 70. By means of the boom and turret, the load 70 may be lifted upwardly and deposited in the location anywhere within a 360 circle, within the radius defined by the length of the boom and its extension. Stabilization of the vehicle and box frame is attained by means of the outriggers. The hydraulic circuitry for simultaneous actuation of the cylinders 42 and for the outriggers, per se, forms no part of the present invention and need not be described in detail. In its retracted position, the boom 38 preferably has a length of 7 feet from its axis of rotation and 21 feet in its extended position.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A hydraulic unloader to be welded to a vehicle chassis comprising a horizontally extending metal box frame, said box frame being defined by mutually facing longitudinally disposed C-shaped side frame members, extending substantially the length of the load bed portion on said vehicle chassis said side frame members being interconnected at spaced points by transversely disposed reinforcement braces, said members being exposed on their bottom surfaces for welding to the truck chassis, a turret supported for rotation through 360 at one end of said frame, and below the level of the upper surface of said frame a vertically extending wall at the other end of said frame, a pair of horizontally extensible and vertically adjustable outriggers supported by said frame below said turret, means for hydraulically adjusting said outriggers vertically, said turret being inclined rearwardly away from said wall, an extensible boom pivoted at one end of said turret for rotation about a horizontal axis, a cable winch supported at one end of said boom for movement therewith, a cable extending along said boom and coupled to said winch, at least one hydraulic cylinder pivoted to said turret, a piston rod in said cylinder having its exposed end pivoted to said boom between the ends of the boom, and said boom together with its extension being of sufficient length so as to extend to said wall at the other end of said frame so as to be supported thereon when not being used.

2. A hydraulic unloader in accordance with claim 1 wherein said metal box frame is provided with a wooden floor, said floor being defined by a plurality of planks, said planks being mounted to said transversely disposed reinforced braces to define said floor.

3. A hydraulic unloader in accordance with claim 1 including a vehicle, said vehicle having an elongated chassis, said side frame members of said box frame being welded to said chassis, a portion of said box frame extending beyond the rear of said vehicle chassis, a portion of said frame including a downwardly depending supporting structure, and said turret being rotatably supported on said structure rearwardly of said chassis and below the level of the upper surface of said frame. 

1. A hydraulic unloader to be welded to a vehicle chassis comprising a horizontally extending metal box frame, said box frame being defined by mutually facing longitudinally disposed Cshaped side frame members, extending substantially the length of the load bed portion on said vehicle chassis said side frame members being interconnected at spaced points by transversely disposed reinforcement braces, said members being exposed on their bottom surfaces for welding to the truck chassis, a turret supported for rotation through 360* at one end of said frame, and below the level of the upper surface of said frame a vertically extending wall at the other end of said frame, a pair of horizontally extensible and vertically adjustable outriggers supported by said frame below said turret, means for hydraulically adjusting said outriggers vertically, said turret being inclined rearwardly away from said wall, an extensible boom pivoted at one end of said turret for rotation about a horizontal axis, a cable winch supported at one end of said boom for movement therewith, a cable extending along said boom and coupled to said winch, at least one hydraulic cylinder pivoted to said turret, a piston rod in said cylinder having its exposed end pivoted to said boom between the ends of the boom, and said boom together with its extension being of sufficient length so as to extend to said wall at the other end of said frame so as to be supported thereon when not being used.
 2. A hydraulic unloader in accordance with claim 1 wherein said metal box frame is provided with a wooden floor, said floor being defined by a plurality of planks, said planks being mounted to said transversely disposed reinforced braces to define said floor.
 3. A hydraulic unloader in accordance with claim 1 including a vehicle, said vehicle having an elongated chassis, said side frame members of said box frame being welded to said chassis, a portion of said box frame extending beyond the Rear of said vehicle chassis, a portion of said frame including a downwardly depending supporting structure, and said turret being rotatably supported on said structure rearwardly of said chassis and below the level of the upper surface of said frame. 